$15.87M Grant Provides Water Bill Relief To Over 75,000 Baltimore City And County Residents

BALTIMORE COUNTY - Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Richard J. Luna, Interim Director of the Department of Public Works (DPW), announced today that debt relief will be extended to 75,811 Baltimore City and County residents.

The relief comes in the form of credits that will be applied to the residents' upcoming water bills to mitigate water bill debts accrued during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The initiative is backed by a $15.87 million grant from Maryland's State and Local Fiscal Relief Fund, a part of the American Rescue Plan Act. The DPW was chosen as one of 19 water systems across Maryland to receive funding through the Maryland Water Assistance Relief Program.

"The financial impact of COVID-19 took a toll for many people in the Baltimore area. This grant will provide Baltimore families with the financial peace of mind and help remove one of the hurdles they may face," Mayor Scott said.

The grant will translate into an average credit of $209 per eligible residential water account in the City and County. The relief credits will be applied to water bill debt incurred from January 27, 2022, through September 30, 2023.

Richard Luna, Interim DPW Director, urged customers to seek out additional financial assistance programs for water affordability. "DPW is committed to connecting residents to programs that ensure water affordability," Luna said.

Priority for the distribution of the grant funds has been given to residents already enrolled in financial water assistance programs such as Water4All and the State Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). The remaining funds will be allocated to residents living in single-family low-income housing and those residing in Qualified Census Track zip codes.

Of the $15.87 million in grant funding, nearly $9.2 million will go specifically to City and County residents residing in Qualified Census Track zip codes, as designated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Residents interested in exploring additional water assistance programs can visit the DPW's Water Affordability Portal or apply for Maryland's Low Income Household Water Assistance Program.

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